EM stimulation and targeted fields?

[sayetsu]

Summary:: I have an idea for a sci-fi story in which something like a headband or electrodes in the brain could be used for augmented reality. Could such devices work physically?

This might be partially in the realm of neuroscience, but could a headband create a pinpointed magnetic field (in the brain)? Could a device like Neuralink (a "neural lace" of electrodes in the brain) provide EM stimulation to specific points, and only those points? I want to write a story about an augmented-reality (like virtual reality, but overlain on the real world; I think Pokemon Go is an example, but I haven't played it) system used with such (a) device(s).

 

[Melbourne Guy]

Could such devices work physically?

Absolutely. But this is such an established trope in sci-fi that all you need to do is wrap some appropriate sounding medical terms around it and readers will accept it at face value. Already, we are seeing doctors use magnetic fields to heat cancer cells and destroy them in highly localised interventions, what you are proposing is no longer fanciful and will likely be a consumer device by 2040.

 

[AlexTheParticle]

That's a really interesting concept! It definitely sounds like something that could be possible with advancements in technology and neuroscience. I think it would be important to do some research on how the brain responds to electromagnetic stimulation and if it could be targeted to specific points. It would also be interesting to explore the potential consequences and ethical concerns of using such a device. Will it have long-term effects on the brain? Will it be accessible to everyone or only certain individuals? There are a lot of potential angles to explore with this idea. I'm excited to see where you take it in your story!